WINTER 2019 | VOLUME 105
PAGE 20
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
SHUT UP, YOU ARE NOT FAT p. 14
LIVE A MORE AUTHENTIC LIFE p. 12
Up Front
Who has been the most supportive to you in your Sorority leadership role?
Hillary Sexton, ΖΩ, Region 7 Facilitator
"At the foundation of my support system, I find my fellow Region Facilitators. These inspiring women share their knowledge, laughter and friendship which keeps me motivated in my volunteer role. I am thankful for their light in my life."
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Sarah Zimmerschied King, ΦΦ, Recruitment Resource Project Team Leader
Cassidy Gillette, IZ, Chapter President
"I’ve had so much support "As chapter president, the throughout my leadership most supportive person to me roles but the two people is my roommate, best friend who have been the most and sorority sister of three supportive are Kat Wolfington years, Sami Shaneyfelt. She Harth and Heather Riley. motivates me by encouraging Kat has been a cheerleader me as a member of our and positive role model executive board and as a since I was a collegian and friend. I'm excited to finish my Heather has continued to term with her by my side." support, encourage and listen throughout my alumnae years."
FRO M THE PR ES IDENT
What are we doing to take care of ourselves? By Kelly McGinnis Beck, EK, National President Self-care. That was the message from Annalise Sinclair at the Philadelphia Women’s Advancement Series in November. What are we doing to make sure we are taking care of ourselves? As women, we often spend more time taking care of everyone else that we forget about taking care of ourselves. If you are like me, you put yourself last on the list, always prioritizing someone else who seems to need you or your time more. I recently read an article on psychologytoday.com called Self Care 101. The author defines self-care as “…the mindful taking time to pay attention to you, not in a narcissistic way, but in a way that ensures that you are being cared for by you.” The tips for selfcare were not rocket science and included suggestions like getting enough sleep, eating nutritional foods, finding ways to manage stress and taking care of your spiritual self. While easier said than done, I have started to make an effort to focus on me and what I need in order to be the best version of myself, knowing this effort will in-turn benefit everyone in my life. The first thing I have done is prioritize sleep. I am trying to actually go to bed at night when I’m tired, even if it is earlier than I think is normal. I am no longer trying to stay up to watch that TV show or squeeze in those last few to-dos I did not get to that day. I have found that when I get a good night’s sleep, not only do I feel better the next day, I have more energy and focus to give to others. Of course, it is not a perfect formula. An earlier bedtime does not guarantee I will get a good night’s sleep. Some nights I find myself awake at 2 a.m. with a million thoughts racing through my head things I have yet to get done or things to remember for another day. It is hard to quiet those thoughts and I am still searching for the best way to manage this to ensure I get a better night’s sleep. I am also working on carving out more time for reading. Last year I made it a habit to carry a book with me wherever I go so I can steal a few minutes of reading while I am waiting somewhere. Lately, I am trying to be more intentional about scheduling a date with my book and I am choosing books I want to read; not just
books I have to read. My latest favorites include Brené Brown’s new book, “Dare to Lead,” and Jean Edward Smith’s biography, “FDR.” I am looking forward to the launch of the ΑΣΑ Book Club and getting to connect my fellow book enthusiast sisters!
“We want Alpha Sigma Alpha to be a place where members can be their authentic selves. A place where we are surrounded by women who take care of themselves physically, emotionally and spiritually.” National council was focused on self-care when we created the strategic goal of “foster[ing] an environment that supports wellbalanced, educated, healthy women.” We want Alpha Sigma Alpha to be a place where members can be their authentic selves. A place where we are surrounded by women who take care of themselves physically, emotionally and spiritually. A place where we not only show care and concern for others, but for ourselves as well. Now I ask you, what are you doing to practice self-care? How are you contributing to a supportive environment so that you can be the best version of yourself and encouraging others to do the same? Take a moment to schedule time in your week just for you. Then, reach out to a sister and encourage her to do the same. Let’s help each other be the best version of ourselves! In Alpha Sigma Alpha,
KELLY MCGINNIS BECK, EK NATIONAL PRESIDENT @ASAKELLYM
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Up Front
20
UNDERSTANDING EMPATHY
in every issue 03 FROM THE PRESIDENT 05 EDITOR’S MESSAGE 06 NEWS & UPDATES 24 WOMEN OF POISE & PURPOSE 26 ΑΣΑ PALMS 28 CHAPTER UPDATES 32 FROM THE ARCHIVES
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IOTA THETA INSTALLATION
35 FROM THE FOUNDATION
just this issue 10 2018 NPC ANNUAL MEETING 12 LIVE A MORE AUTHENTIC LIFE
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The importance of kindness Dear readers,
The New Year brings with it an opportunity to make resolutions. I have been thinking a lot about how I can make 2019 a positive and happy year, and one of the best ways I can think of doing this is through kindness. Kindness is such an important characteristic. Research shows that devoting resources to others, rather than having more and more for yourself, brings about lasting well-being. A kind word, a smile, opening a door, or helping carry a heavy load can make all the difference in someone’s day. Celebrating someone you love, giving honest compliments, sending an email thanking someone, telling someone how they are special to you and refusing to gossip are easy ways to practice kindness. Kindness is also a willingness to full-heartedly celebrate someone else’s successes. Your response to someone’s successes may determine more about your relationship than how you respond when times are difficult. Do you minimize the success, not pay attention to it, or bring up all the problems with the success? Kindness is to be openly happy for the other person. Kindness is also about telling the truth in a gentle way when doing so is helpful to the other person. Receiving accurate feedback in a loving and caring way is an important part of a trusted relationship. The courage to give and receive truthful feedback is a key component of growth.
Volume 105 | Issue 1 Phoenix of Alpha Sigma Alpha (USPS 430-640) is published quarterly by Alpha Sigma Alpha, 9002 Vincennes Circle, Indianapolis, IN, 462683018. Periodicals postage paid at Indianapolis, IN, and additional mailing offices. © Alpha Sigma Alpha Send address changes, death notices and business correspondence to the national headquaters. Address all editorial correspondence to the editor. POSTMASTER: Send address changes (Form 3579) to Phoenix of Alpha Sigma Alpha, 9002 Vincennes Circle, Indianapolis, IN 46268-3018. Printed in the USA. DEADLINES Winter Sept. 10 Spring Dec. 10 Summer March 10 Fall June 10
Kindness includes being kind to yourself. Do you treat yourself kindly? Do you speak gently and kindly to yourself and take good care of yourself?
EDITOR AND DESIGNER Kelsey Turner, ΔΚ
There are many ways to be kind and many opportunities to practice. Perhaps kindness is a value that could add more satisfaction to your life and strengthen your relationships. I hope this issue teaches you new ways to be kind to others and yourself. I hope it encourages you to incorporate even the smallest acts of kindness into your everyday life.
NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS 9002 Vincennes Circle Indianapolis, IN 46268-3018 Phone: (317) 871-2920 Fax: (317) 871-2924 Email: asa@AlphaSigmaAlpha.org
Mizphah,
KELSEY TURNER DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS We always welcome your comments– both criticism and praise–about this publication. Email the editor at asa@AlphaSigmaAlpha.org.
& MARKETING
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News & U p dates
S AV E T H E D AT E
#ASANIGHTOUT THURSDAY, MAY 16
The idea is simple – grab a few sisters and go do something fun! The possibilities are endless: meet up for a drink, go to a sporting event, try a new restaurant, host a game night, have a kid play-date or even just catch-up over Skype with a far-away sister. The best part of ΑΣΑ Night Out is that your event is what you want it to be. Find or submit an event at www.AlphaSigmaAlpha.org/ASANightOut Connect with Alpha Sigma Alpha members everywhere by sharing your ΑΣΑ Night Out on social media using the hashtag #ASANightOut.
Alpha Sigma Alpha partners with Publishing Concepts, Inc. to create alumnae directory Alpha Sigma Alpha announced a partnership with Publishing Concepts, Inc. (PCI) to create a comprehensive alumnae directory for members. During the next few months, PCI will contact members via email, postcard and phone call to confirm and/or update member information. Members are encouraged to respond by calling the number or visiting the website provided to update their information. Alumnae may also order the 2020 Alpha Sigma Alpha Alumnae Directory when they update their information. PCI is a trusted partner of Alpha Sigma Alpha and is contractually obligated to keep all personal information received confidential. Please direct questions to Vanessa David, director of alumnae engagement, at vdavid@AlphaSigmaAlpha.org.
S T R AT E G I C G O A L A R E A
Elevate
NEW STRATEGIC GOAL AREA LABELS
Beginning with this issue, articles in the magazine will be labeled with a strategic goal area that corresponds to the article. These labels will help members connect to the 2018-22 Alpha Sigma Alpha Strategic Plan.
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STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP
News & U pdates
SAVE THE DATE EMMA COLEMAN FROST LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE
KANSAS CITY, JUNE 28-30, 2019 PHILADELPHIA, JULY 12-14, 2019 INDIANAPOLIS, JULY 26-28, 2019 REGISTRATION NOW OPEN Phoenix of Alpha Sigma Alpha 7
News & U p dates S T R AT E G I C G O A L A R E A
Advance
Alpha Sigma Alpha installed Iota Theta Chapter at Columbia College
“It was very apparent we were joining something much bigger than ourselves, and I hold a lot of pride in that.” SARAH BAU S , ΙΘ CH ARTE R MEMBER
BY AMANDA CHEWNING, EA, LEADERSHIP CONSULTANT The Iota Theta Chapter was installed on Nov. 10, 2018 at Columbia College in Columbia, SC. The weekend festivities took place at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. Nearby collegiate and alumnae members came to celebrate the initiation of 15 women and the installation of the newest chapter of Alpha Sigma Alpha. The women were joined by their guests for an evening banquet commemorating their achievements as a new chapter. President of Columbia College, Carol
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Moore, Ph.D., delivered a keynote address during the installation banquet. Dr. Moore spoke to the women about leaving a lasting impact on their campus and in their community. She encouraged the women to be a driving force for social change and an example of how to care for one another. The national organization also presented the Columbia College Campus Activities Office with a fraternal enhancement grant to bolster the success of sorority life on campus. The night was a celebration filled with sisterhood and excitement as the Iota Theta members and advisors celebrated their accomplishments with family and friends.
News & U pdates
CHARTER MEMBERS Barbara Alves Wanderley Alexis Atkins Sarah Baus Rebecca Eubanks Addison Frazier Sydney Gregory Lamonica Hampton Layal Issa Amaya Liles Kayleigh Miller Brianna Richardson Colleen Roach Brittany Robbins Emma Russell
CHARTER NEW MEMBER Carla Ursua
ALUMNAE INITIATE Theresa Lester
CHAPTER ADVISORS Rebecca Cornett-Schnetzer, AA Grace Day, ΘT Nina Barber Jackson, AA Theresa Lester, ΙΘ
INSTALLATION TEAM Kelly McGinnis Beck, EK, national president Ellie Whitt, ZZ, collegiate expansion coordinator Hillary Sexton, ZΩ, Region 7 facilitator Amanda Chewning, EA, leadership consultant Middle: Sarah Baus and Layal Issa at the sisterhood breakfast. Left: Lamonica Hampton receives her membership certificate from National President Kelly McGinnis Beck, EK.
INSTALLATION GIFTS AND DONATIONS SPONSORED BY: Suzanne Hebert, BZ Kelly McGinnis Beck, EK
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News & U p dates S T R AT E G I C G O A L A R E A
Elevate
NEW GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE PASSED AT 2018 ANNUAL MEETING By Loretta Good, NPC director of communication & marketing
N
ational Panhellenic Conference leadership, volunteers and guests met in St. Louis, Oct. 19-21, at the Renaissance St. Louis Airport Hotel for the 2018 NPC annual meeting. Guided by the theme “Gateway to Our Future,” attendees had the opportunity to meet, strategize and make bold decisions about how NPC and its member organizations work together to advance the sorority experience. On Friday, Oct. 19, the NPC Executive Committee, board of directors, inter/ national presidents and executive directors met to discuss a number of topics, including NPC governance, trends in higher education, recruitment results and the NPC strategic plan. The annual meeting began in earnest with the Friday night delegation dinner and meeting kick-off. After the meal, attendees shared in a motivational session in which Erin Fischer, owner and CEO of The Leadership and Training Studio, encouraged participants to challenge old ways of thinking and to shine a light on other women. The kick-off was followed by the opening
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business meeting, led by NPC Chairman Carole Jones, Alpha Omicron Pi. During her state of NPC address, Jones focused on accomplishments in 2017-18, noting NPC’s work in preserving and advancing the sorority experience on many fronts. She explained NPC was guided by its five strategic priorities and discussed projects such as the creation of think tanks, the “Call for Critical Change,” projects completed to advance Panhellenic operations and NPC’s legislative and advocacy efforts. “As we embrace these many opportunities together, it is loud and clear that the state of NPC is strong, but the state of sorority is fragile,” said Jones as she summarized threats to the sorority experience during the past year. “… Challenging issues in challenging times, but we have leaned on each other for strength, advice, encouragement and comfort. We have all ‘faced challenges and embraced opportunities together.’” Other meeting highlights included the introduction of local College and Alumnae Panhellenic guests, presentation of the
finance report and consideration of NPC legislation. Attendees began their Saturday at a special meeting of the NPC Board of Directors. During the meeting, the directors voted to increase member organization dues and undergraduate fees. In addition, the directors voted to amend NPC’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. Effective July 1, 2019, NPC will transition to a new strategic governance structure with a seven-member board of directors and a 26-member Council of Delegates. In a historic shift, the chairmanship of NPC will no longer rotate through NPC member organizations according to the order of admission to the Conference. The Council of Delegates will elect the chairman from
News & U pdates
WHAT DO THE NPC GOVERNANCE CHANGES MEAN TO ALPHA SIGMA ALPHA? By Sue Zorichak, BB, NPC delegate During the NPC annual meeting, delegates approved revised articles and bylaws that created a new governing and volunteer structure for NPC. Here are the key aspects of this historic change:
Alpha Sigma Alpha NPC delegation from left to right: Executive Director Krystal Geyer Slivinski, ΓP, First Alternate Delegate Laura Zabel Hockstra, ΔK, Delegate Sue Zorichak, BB, National President Kelly McGinnis Beck, EK, Third Alternate Delegate Suzanne Kilgannon, BI, and Second Alternate Delegate Caelee Gibbs Lehman, EE.
the seven board members, two of which will rotate into board service based on the order in which their sororities were admitted to NPC and five of which will be elected by the Council. Following the special meeting, attendees participated in educational sessions and spent time with NPC’s partners. At the NPC Foundation dinner, Janet Brown, Alpha Omicron Pi, outgoing president of the NPC Foundation, spoke about the Foundation’s successes during the past few years. She also announced more than $13,500 had been raised for the Spirit Fund which serves as an avenue for the direct support of various NPC programs. Attendees also received the Foundation’s annual report.
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Rotating into the NPC chairmanship will no longer happen.
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A council of delegates (COD), consisting of one alumna representative from each member organization, will have primary responsibility for NPC membership and Panhellenic policies. The Alpha Sigma Alpha National President will serve as the Sorority's representative. There will no longer be alternate delegates.
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A seven-member board of directors will consist of five members elected by the COD and two members appointed by their member organization on a rotational basis. Alpha Sigma Alpha will rotate onto the board in 2027 . Board members will begin their two-year terms July 1, 2019. The COD will also elect the NPC chairman from among these women. The board will lead NPC and establish corporate policy, set strategic direction, oversee and secure resources and monitor organizational performance.
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A chief Panhellenic officer, appointed by each member organization, will serve as the point person for campusbased information from NPC or volunteers, such as area advisors.
After dinner, Panhellenics training began with a welcome session, an update on Panhellenic extension and regional meetings. Training continued on Sunday morning with an NPC projects update, a discussion of College Panhellenic marketing and an update on the campus concerns process. Attendees then participated in topical sessions, followed by regional meetings and a wrap-up session. The 2018 NPC annual meeting provided a forum for attendees to discuss important issues impacting the Panhellenic community and for NPC leadership to take bold steps to help the Conference be more proactive in preserving and advancing the sorority experience together – now and for the future.
The intended result of the new structure is a nimble and more responsive NPC.
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Connect
live a more authentic life BY J ENNY G R E YE RBIE H L, NPC D IR E CTOR OF E D UCATION AND PA NHELLENIC SU PPORT JUST BE YOURSELF. LIVE MORE AUTHENTICALLY. BE TRUE TO YOURSELF.
isn’t that what I’m doing right now? Live an authentic life. Umm… am I living something other than that?”
This advice, or some version of it, is given to us our entire lives with what I am certain is the best of intentions; but if you are like me you have often asked yourself (on the inside, while smiling on the outside of course), “What the heck does that even mean?!? Be myself? Umm…
So before I go any further l want to be very clear, I do NOT have this all figured out. What I do know is that I feel like I’m closer to understanding this advice, and what it means to live authentically, each and every day. Of course, some days feel a bit more authentic than others, just like
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some people feel a bit more authentic than others, and the goal is simply to keep working at it, keep surrounding yourself with the right people, one day at a time. Merriam-Webster defines the word authentic as “true to one’s own personality, spirit, or character.” So as I have worked to be authentic, I have implemented several things in my own life that I hope will be of value to you as you live your lives.
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BE OPEN TO LEARNING ABOUT YOURSELF
Take advantage of all of the opportunities you have to learn about yourself. Take personality and behavioral assessments. Read self-help books. Listen to podcasts that make you curious. Subscribe to blogs. Spend time reflecting on how something makes you feel and ask yourself why you feel that way. One of my favorite assessments, CliftonStrengths tells you what you are naturally good at and encourages you to develop those things into strengths. I
We all have reactions to things, sometimes it is emotional, sometimes it is physical and sometimes it is mental. Regardless, listen to yourself and honor it. Allow it to guide your actions and decisions. It is okay if you are the only one with the reaction, you should trust yourself anyway.
SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO GET REAL
The older I get the more I want to spend time with those individuals who are willing to go deep, fast. When you find those people (and they will likely be few and
“At the end of the day, in order to live authentically, you have got to do the work.” learned by taking this assessment that one of my top five talents is learner. I’m always interested in learning new facts, skills or knowledge and the older I have gotten the more curious I have gotten about myself. I challenge you, if you are not already, to get curious about yourself as well.
TRUST YOUR GUT
There is this innate sense within you that can tell you a lot if you pay attention. When something feels “off,” it usually is. If you meet someone and get an immediate reaction to them, heed it. If you have a nagging feeling about a situation, respond.
far between) be willing to jump in head first, sharing with them not just what you should say, but what you feel—the raw, honest stuff. Interactions with these people will be the most important ones you have. These are the people you should cultivate a relationship with, the ones you should become friends with. And once you find them, hold on tight. Check in with them. Love on them. Allow them to do the same to you. On days when you are not quite feeling yourself, pick up the phone and call or text them because they know just what to say—the real stuff. Those are your people.
I read a book titled “The Invitation.” It is written by Oriah Mountain Dreamer and begins with a poem that the first line reads, “It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing.” This poem and the entire book go on to say so many things that moved me and really speaks to this concept. Find people willing to share their aches and dreams. Those are your people.
TRY NEW THINGS
Sign yourself up for a half marathon, a cooking class, a volunteer gig. I know doing something new takes courage because if you are anything like me, new things come with doubt. Doubt in myself, doubt in my ability, doubt in why I even signed myself up to do anything other than lay in my bed, binge-watching Netflix; however, once I get there and get started, I am always glad I tried it. Some things stick, some things are a one and done, some things you will come back to after a few years of walking away. Either way, you will never know unless you try and sometimes trying something new ends up being something that sticks with you for the rest of your life, making you feel more like yourself. At the end of the day, in order to live authentically, you have got to do the work. One of my favorite authors, Brené Brown once said, “Authenticity is a collection of choices that we have to make every day. It’s about the choice to show up and be real. The choice to be honest. The choice to let our true selves be seen.” It is my hope that this article helps you do just that.
ABOUT Jenny Jenny Greyerbiehl is the Director of Education and Panhellenic Support for the National Panhellenic Conference. She has spent more than 15 years working in higher education including with her own member organization, Alpha Xi Delta. She currently lives in Indianapolis and when she is not working she can be found at OrangeTheory Fitness, traveling with her sister or reading a book.
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Exemplify
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“Ugh, I feel so fat today.” “Yes I am, I’m so gross. I need to go on a diet.”
“Shut up, you are NOT fat!”
“OMG I would kill to look like you. I’m the one that needs to go on a diet. Wanna do it together?”
This conversation, and conversations like it, are happening all over our country. In sorority house living rooms, in office break rooms, at places of worship, classrooms, daycares, soccer practices and on shopping trips (especially on shopping trips). I have had this conversation—most of us have. Women are often uncomfortable with our bodies and the way we look, and vent about it when we are with friends.
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I never thought “ MY SHAME DID NOT WORK THAT WAY (NO ONE’S DOES). REMINDING MYSELF HOW MUCH I DID NOT LIKE MY BODY ONLY MADE ME DISLIKE IT MORE. IT DID NOT MAKE ME GO TO THE GYM; IT MADE ME AVOID IT.” 16 Phoenix of Alpha Sigma Alpha
much of this conversation or pattern, until the summer of 2016. My life had gone through several recent changes: I had moved back to my home state, started a new relationship and left my job, all within a few short months. In the madness of all of my life changes, things like a consistent exercise routine, a fridge full of healthy food, even my mental focus on living a healthy lifestyle, were left behind and replaced with packing and unpacking, talking to my new favorite person and deciding what my professional future looked like. All of those behavioral and environmental changes lead to physical changes. To put it another way: I gained weight. I did not notice it gradually—it was like one day I went to my closet to get dressed, and my jeans no longer fit. I vividly remember that day. I immediately ripped those jeans off of my body (well, not immediately, because they were too tight and it, therefore, took an upsetting amount of time to get off of my body), sat on the floor, and cried. I felt embarrassed. I felt unattractive. I felt ashamed. I carried that shame around with me for quite some time, like it too was weight I had gained. Shame is a heavy, everpresent emotion that we bring everywhere, assuming it will motivate us. If I remind myself how irresponsible I am for having not finished my to-do list, then I will force myself to do it. If I remind myself that only pathetic people text their ex, then I won’t text them. If I tell myself that I am unattractive and should lose weight, then I will go to the gym. My shame did not work that way (no one’s does). Reminding myself how much I did not like my body only made me dislike it more. It did not make me go to the gym; it
made me avoid it. It did not encourage me to do yoga; it made me feel like I wasn’t capable or deserving of yoga. Instead of motivating me to take care of my body, my shame taught me to hate my body. So, I did what most of us do in these situations: have the “shut up, you’re not fat” conversation. I called my friend, went out for some wine, and at some point, made a comment about “feeling fat.” I tensed up, waiting to hear my friend say the words I expected (and wanted) to hear. But they never came. My friend did not say “shut up, you’re not fat.” She looked at me with kindness in her eyes, and an expression on her face that said, “I am listening.” So I kept talking. I told her all about how I let this happen to my body, how I had been trying to force myself to go to the gym (by being a jerk to myself), and how it was not working. How I felt even worse about myself than I did the month before. And how I felt alone. When I finished, she got up, gave me a hug, looked me in the face and said “I’m sorry you’re going through this. But you are definitely not alone.” I asked if she had struggled with her weight or body before, and she literally laughed out loud. “Yea. We all have.” We all have. Women, of all ages, all over this country, have struggled with their bodies. Their weight, their skin, their height, their breasts, their feet, their eyelashes—you name it, and we have struggled with it. My friend was right. I most certainly was not alone in this, but until I started doing research about body image issues in America, I had no idea just how not alone I was. Fifty-three percent of 13-year-old girls do not like the way they look. By the time those girls turn 17, that number jumps to 78 percent. Eighty-nine percent of those same 17-year-olds have tried to diet to lose weight before they graduate from
high school. Forty-five percent of women in America are on a diet right now. Half of those women admit to participating in unhealthy, disordered eating behaviors for the purposes of losing weight. It is affecting women of all ages: the fastest growing population of women diagnosed with eating disorders is middle-aged women, and 81 percent of all ten-year-old girls are afraid of being fat. Forty-two percent of first, second, and third-grade girls can already say they would be happier if they were skinnier. Ninety-one percent of all women in college are on a diet right now. Learning these facts was shocking. On the other hand though, it all made perfect sense. I immediately remembered being told by my dad that I was too chubby. I remembered choosing not to eat in middle school because the girls around me were so much skinnier than me. I remembered looking at pictures of me from years ago, exclaiming out loud how much I wish I looked like that now, knowing that when that picture was taken I hated the way I looked in it. I remembered my mom just a few months ago saying she hated the way she looked in a swimsuit.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE
81% 53% 89% 91% 45%
of all ten-year-old girls are afraid of being fat of 13-year-old girls do not like the way they look of girls try to lose weight before they graduate from high school of all women in college are on a diet right now of women in America are on a diet right now
Of course, I was not alone. Of course, all women struggle with our bodies. As you read this, many of you are remembering similar moments to my body-related shame list. For several of us, this is something we think about. A lot.
this sentence is a wretched attempt to actually help someone feel better in their own skin. Here’s the point: while every woman’s body comes with its own set of body image issues, this “shut up you are not fat” conversation is not one-size-fits-all.
And yet, the only conversations we have about it, about this issue that we all have struggled with, that we all think about, can be summed up by six words:
It’s time for a different approach—for women to have better, more intentional, meaningful, compassionate conversations about our weight and body image. If it is something we all go through, literal and figurative weight we are carrying around with us, shouldn’t we at least be able to have conversations about it that make us feel heard, valued and supported? I knew that in order for me to feel better about my body, to at least not hate my body, I would have to take baby steps. Here
“Shut up, you are not fat.” For some of us, this sentence is actually quite helpful. It makes us feel better, assures us that not everyone agrees with the horrible things we say about ourselves. For others, this is not even a little bit
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helpful. Some women have found power in identifying as fat, taking the emotional pain out of that word by turning it into something they are comfortable and proud to be. Some people hear “shut up, you are not fat” and immediately believe someone is being disingenuous. Others still think
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are three things that helped change the way I talked to my friends (and myself) about body image:
LISTEN
This sounds like a bit of a “duh” suggestion, but I have learned from talking to all kinds of women about this issue that listening is not currently a part of the conversations we have about our bodies. When one of your friends says “Ugh,
“LISTENING TO HER, LETTING HER TEACH YOU WHAT SHE IS GOING THROUGH, RATHER THAN ASSUMING SHE NEEDS TO HEAR THAT YOU DO NOT THINK SHE IS FAT. IT COULD MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN HER DAY.” I feel so fat today,” most of us almost immediately respond with our classic “shut up, you are not fat!” The second we respond in this way, two things have happened: 1. We have immediately invalidated how
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she is feeling. We have just told her that she is wrong about her body and the way she feels in it. 2. We have stopped listening and started talking, long before we know what is really going on for this woman. What if instead, we followed this comment up with a “What’s going on, sister?” or a “Tell me more, what’s up?” When we ask a question, we give her the opportunity to tell us what is going on with her body. Maybe she’s had a few weeks where she hasn’t been able to prioritize taking care of herself, and so she doesn’t feel good in her skin. Maybe it’s her time of the month, and her body is bloating and uncomfortable. Maybe she’s been looking at Instagram fitness models over the last hour, judging herself for not looking like the touched-up photos on the internet. Each one of these women deserves a different response, based on what she is specifically struggling with that day. Listening to her, letting her teach you what she is going through, rather than assuming she needs to hear that you do not think she is fat. It could make a huge difference in her day.
BODY KINDNESS
Body positivity. Body Love. Self-Love. All of these phrases have emerged in the last few years as women have advocated for themselves and the visibility of women in all different kinds of bodies. Women are getting tired of being made to feel like garbage simply because of their size, and are working toward feeling love, or at least positive about their bodies—and I love it. I believe women deserve to feel all of those things. …but what about those of us who aren’t quite there, yet? Who cannot imagine feeling instantly positive about our reflection, or in love with our curves? Do we have to live in body shame until we can find body love? No. I think there’s a middle ground, a starting point that feels a bit more accessible for women: body kindness. What if instead, we all reached for feeling love for the skin we are in, we
“YOU ARE MORE THAN YOUR BODY. YOU ARE SO MUCH MORE THAN WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE.” simply chose to be kind to it? If we can’t do that for ourselves (we should try), we can certainly do that for our friends and sisters. Reminding women who are feeling uncomfortable in their bodies that they have done their best this week, that they are not stupid or lazy, that their body got them to this point in the week, so at least there is something there worth celebrating, is practicing body kindness. We do not have to be in love with our bodies just yet but our bodies get us through each day and work pretty hard to do it. They are worthy of our kindness—regardless of what they look like.
YOU ARE MORE
You are more than your body. You are so much more than what you look like. Your body is an important part of you, a part that is worthy of love, or at least kindness but it is NOT the only part of you that matters. You have a brain that is smart, capable of reason and navigating the million things you have to do on any given day. You have a soul that is passionate, that lights a fire inside of you and inspires others to chase their dreams. You have a heart that cares for and loves people in your life, that connects with other people every day. Your body is a piece of you, but it is not the only piece of you that is important. When you or your friends are having a bad-body-image-day, one of the best ways to get out of that funk is to do something that reminds you about the other important parts of who you are. Read a book, study, journal, or do a crossword—use your brain, and remind yourself how important your intellect is to you. Do something that
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sets your soul on fire—celebrate having passions, and how good it feels when you do something you care about. Call your grandmother, or your grandchild—reach out to someone in your life that you care about, and let your heart love them. Are these magic tricks that will immediately reprogram your brain to no longer struggle with body image? No. Are these fool-proof solutions for hating our bodies? Not a chance. Are these tips going to instantly set you up to love your body? Not right away. But do they help? Could these subtle changes to our conversations about our bodies start to positively influence the way we talk to ourselves when we look in the mirror? Do they help the women in your circle feel more supported? Can they take some of the loneliness out of our struggles? Yes. Yes, they can. They’ve helped me. These little adjustments may not have completely changed my world or the way I look at myself in it, but they have made a difference. They have helped me use language that does not degrade myself. They have helped me believe that women, no matter what they look like, deserve to participate in conversations about negative body image. More importantly than anything else, these small victories have helped me let go of the heavy shame I had been carrying around with me since the summer of 2016. In the battle we are waging against negative body image, those small victories are actually not small at all. As author Sonya Renee Taylor said, “Making peace with your body is your mighty act of revolution.”
ABOUT TINA Tina has been serving college students as a professional speaker for the past four years. Tina speaks to students around North America about how to bring the heart back to their leadership styles and the voices back to women in their organizations and relationships. Tina attended Hamline University for her undergraduate degree. Later, she attended Illinois State University for her master's degree in college student personnel administration. Tina served as The Academy keynote speaker in 2017-18. Connect with her on social media @TinaRaeVan.
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Featu r e S T R AT E G I C G O A L A R E A
Exemplify
g n i d n a t s r e d n U Empathy BY KELSEY TURNER, ΔΚ, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING
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Featu r e was recently traveling with a group of friends and we flew to our destination. My friend Ashley had only flown a few times and had some pretty extreme anxiety while taking off. As she opened up to me about her anxiety, I instantly started to feel anxious as well. My past experiences with anxiety allowed me to put myself in her shoes and feel exactly what she was feeling. My other friends felt completely unfazed by her anxiety while I struggled to calm down. Why is it that when we see another person suffering, some of us are able to instantly envision ourselves in the other person’s place and feel compassion for his/her pain while others remain indifferent? Empathy is the key. We are generally pretty well-attuned to our own feelings and emotions, but empathy allows us to “walk a mile in another’s shoes,” so to speak. It permits us to understand the emotions another person is feeling. So why do we feel empathy? Why does it matter? And what impact does it have on our behavior?
WHAT IS EMPATHY? Empathy involves the ability to emotionally understand what another person is experiencing. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, empathy is: “the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another of either the past or present without having the feelings, thoughts, and experience fully communicated in an objectively explicit manner; also: the capacity for this”. Empathy goes far beyond sympathy, which might be considered ‘feeling for’ someone. Empathy, instead, is ‘feeling with’ that person, through the use of imagination.
Em·pa·thy THE ACTION OF UNDERSTANDING, BEING AWARE OF, BEING SENSITIVE TO, AND VICARIOUSLY EXPERIENCING THE FEELINGS, THOUGHTS, AND EXPERIENCE OF ANOTHER OF EITHER THE PAST OR PRESENT WITHOUT HAVING THE FEELINGS, THOUGHTS, AND EXPERIENCE FULLY COMMUNICATED IN AN OBJECTIVELY EXPLICIT MANNER; ALSO : THE CAPACITY FOR THIS
Empathy is important because it helps us understand how others are feeling so we can respond appropriately to the situation. Empathy leads to helping behavior, which benefits social relationships. We are naturally social creatures. Things that aid in our relationships with other people benefits us as well. When people experience empathy, they are more likely to engage in behaviors that benefit other people. For example, if we use empathy to understand why a child is acting out, you might learn that something happened that is upsetting them. For instance, their mother is ill or the child has no food at home to eat and is hungry. Instead of reacting to the emotions of another or becoming defensive, you can ask questions about their behavior or emotional state. There still may need to be disciplined for their behavior, but by using empathy first, the child feels valued and heard and therefore, will more easily accept responsibility for their actions. Feeling heard and understood is a human need. Everyone needs to feel understood. Empathy helps us get in touch with our feelings and gives us an emotional understanding of ourselves and others. Feeling understood is not only a basic human need but it is also how we connect,
help, and support one another. If we can’t recognize someone in pain, how can we support them? Without empathy, people do not consider how other people feel or what they may be thinking. Each of us has differing perspectives. We all experience moods, pain and hurt, joy and sadness. And we are so limited when we only see our own perspective. Without taking a moment to assess another, it is easy to make assumptions and jump to conclusions. This often leads to misunderstandings, bad feelings, conflict and poor morale. Without empathy, people do not feel heard or understood.
CHALLENGES TO EMPATHY As the story at the beginning of the article illustrated, not everyone experiences empathy in every situation. My other friends may have felt sympathy and compassion for Ashely but they did not feel empathy. There is a growing concern for the apparent decline of empathy in society today. A study by the University of Michigan found that college students today are showing less empathy than previous decades, a 40 percent decline in fact. That is an alarming number.
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Featu r e So why is that we feel empathy for some people or situations but not for others? There are two main factors that contribute to our ability to experience empathy: genetics and socialization. Essentially, it boils down to nature and nurture. Our parents pass down genes that contribute to our overall personality, including our propensity toward sympathy, empathy and compassion. On the other hand, we are also socialized by our parents, our peers, our communities and by society. How we treat others and how we feel about others, is often a reflection of the beliefs and values that were instilled at a very young age. The best way to think about empathy is an innate capacity that needs to be developed. Empathy in today’s society is challenging for a number of reasons. Empathy is sometimes challenging because it requires us to pay attention. Too often we are in our own heads; we have our own agenda. We are busy. So, we do not pay attention to what others are thinking or feeling. Empathy is also challenging because it takes time. In our fast-paced world, people just keep moving. Empathy requires that we stop and take the time to care. Often people think they are empathetic but when you consider what you are thinking about when you are listening to the person, you may find that you are busy thinking about you – how the person thinks about you, if they like you, that you should be doing something else, or you are not going to be able to help them, etc. When your mind is so busy with thoughts about you, then you do not have the capacity to really be present for another person. How we perceive the other person, how we attribute her behaviors, what we blame for the other person’s predicament, and our own past experiences and expectations all come into play as well. Sometimes the way we perceive the world around us is influenced by a number of biases. For
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example, we often attribute other people’s failures to internal characteristics, while blaming our own shortcomings on external factors. These biases can make it difficult to see all the factors that contribute to a situation and make it less likely that we will be able to see a situation from the perspective of another.
CULTIVATING EMPATHY It may not always be easy, or even possible, to empathize with others but, through good people skills and some imagination, we can work towards more empathetic feelings. Although we do not all start with the same baseline capacity for empathy, we can actually work to increase our empathy levels. Here are some specific activities for cultivating empathy:
1. ACTIVE LISTENING The form of listening we usually offer and receive is more passive than it should be. While passive listening allows a person to hear and react on cue, active listening involves a person listening to each word, imagining the driving emotions behind what is being said, and regularly feeding back what is being heard to the person speaking. Active listening encourages us to tune in—and in doing this, we can connect more deeply. The more you practice active listening, the better you will be at reading a person’s emotions through their words, tone, and expressions. Becoming an active listener increases empathy levels, but it also helps to create positive feelings in the person who’s communicating with us. A University of New Brunswick study found that people who previously reported feeling misunderstood or not heard found more fulfillment when speaking with a person practicing active listening.
2. SPEND TIME HELPING OTHERS If you feel a spring in your step after helping someone out, there is a reason for
that. Researchers at the London School of Economics have found that people who volunteer are happier. Volunteering increases empathy and it has been proven that empathy increases life satisfaction. Creating social bonds with those outside of our immediate social circle and working to enhance the lives of others helps us to keep the well-being of all people at the forefront of our thinking.
3. BE NON-JUDGMENTAL Creating an environment that is free of judgment is the first step to actively understanding a person’s situation. Forming an opinion or conclusion about someone can create a barrier that makes it difficult to be in tune with her feelings.
4. FRAME QUESTIONS APPROPRIATELY Cultivating your curiosity can help increase you empathy levels but asking “why” questions can sometimes come off as judgmental. “Why” questions suggest that you are trying to give advice, and can potentially make them feel defensive about their actions. Examples include: “Why did you not try doing it this way?” or “Why couldn’t you come up with a better idea?” Aim for questions that are open-ended; there are plenty of other ways to frame them appropriately. “What,” “How,” “When” and “Where” can be used as substitutes for asking “Why.” For example, instead of asking, “Why don’t you go see a doctor?” another way that question could be framed is “Have you thought about seeing a doctor?”
5. VALIDATE EMOTIONS Simply acknowledging a person’s emotions can go a long way. It lets them know their thoughts and feelings are valid. Sometimes when a person is opening up, feelings of shame, guilt or doubt can arise. Acknowledging a person’s emotions can help open up the space to let them come to terms with how they feel.
Featu r e 6. BE COMFORTABLE WITH SILENCE People experience silence at different comfort levels. Finding a balance between your comfort level and the other person’s is an important tool that can be used in cultivating empathy. In some cases, where you or the other person is caught in a situation that makes it difficult to continue talking, silence can create the space for the person to think. It can feel awkward at times since most of our society is bent on eliminating awkward tension through noise or distractions. But it can be an incredibly useful tool during situations where tensions are rising, or during interactions that become unproductive, unhealthy or off-topic. Allow yourself some time to explore the use of silence in conversations, as well as understanding how you feel about it.
7. PARAPHRASE AND SUMMARIZE THE SITUATION A good way to let the person know you were following the conversation is to occasionally restate the things she has said. An example would be: “So what I’m hearing is that you felt _____ because ________ happened. Is that correct?” Summarizing the story at the end of the conversation can help a person feel “heard” and appreciated.
AN EMPATHIC RESPONSE My favorite piece of advice about empathy comes from author and researcher Brené Brown. She said “never does an empathic response begin with ‘at least.’” When someone shares something painful, we try to put a silver lining on it. “I had a miscarriage” “At least you know you can get pregnant.” “John is getting kicked out of school.” “At least Sarah is an A student.” She goes on to say, rarely can a response make something better. What makes something better is connection and a truly empathic response allows us to connect.
Empathetic Responses When something terrible happens to a friend or loved one, it can be difficult to know what to say. We often reach for common responses like “everything happens for a reason” and “this too shall pass.” Although these statements sound good in theory, they rarely do much to help the other person feel better. Next time, think about trying one of these responses: VALIDATE THEIR EMOTIONS “I’m sorry you are going through this.” “It is understandable that you feel ______.” “That sounds really challenging.” SHOW HOW YOU FEEL “I can’t imagine what you must be going through.” “My heart hurts for you.” “It makes me really sad to hear this happened.” SHOW GRATITUDE THAT THE PERSON OPENED UP “Thank you for sharing with me.” “I’m glad you told me.” “Thank you for trusting me with this. That really means a lot.” “This must be hard to talk about. Thanks for opening up to me.” SHOW INTEREST “What has this been like for you?” “I want to make sure I understand…” “What I’m hearing is that you are feeling ____. Is that right?” “Is there anything else you want to share?” BE ENCOURAGING “You are brave / strong / talented.” “You matter.” “You are a warrior.” “I’m in your corner.” “I love you.” “I’m proud of you.”
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Women of Poise & Purpose
Women of poise & purpose AMY REINECKE EPSILON EPSILON BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN JOURNEY "Learning about the core values when I was a collegiate member was important, but as I have gotten older, I realize the foundation that Alpha Sigma Alpha laid for me in becoming a woman of poise and purpose. The core values of Alpha Sigma Alpha are what I strive to focus on today as a wife, mother and blogger. I share my personal testimony of overcoming disordered eating and encourage women to find peace with their bodies on my blog, Beautifully Broken Journey. I share how important balance, growth, learning and enjoyment are for our health. Every day I am given the opportunity to form relationships with women who share their own stories with me and it is my hope to continue to inspire others to love life and joyously live, regardless of their shape or size. I feel it is my responsibility to share my own story in hopes it can inspire growth and change for other women. Being a sorority woman taught me the importance of community and integrity and I am so thankful for the sisterhood of Alpha Sigma Alpha."
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Women of Poise & Purpose
HANNAH MCNUTT ZETA ALPHA PRESIDENT OF THE GREATER JOPLIN ALUMNAE CHAPTER "There are many reasons why Alpha Sigma Alpha is more than just a college organization, it is a home. Together with your sisters, you grow in so many ways, especially in the four aims: intellectually, physically, spiritually, and socially. I do not think I would have achieved such academic success without the help and support of my sisters. I was a triple major in management, human resource management, and marketing and graduated in three years. After I graduated, I knew I was not finished with Alpha Sigma Alpha. I decided to create a local alumnae chapter which has already grown in six short months. It would not have been successful without the amazing support of the other alumnae in the Joplin area. I began my Masters of Business Administration in January and am very excited to graduate in December 2019 and continue to further my education with my PhD.
“I credit Alpha Sigma Alpha because the organization always inspires me to love life and joyously live each day to it’s ultimate good.”
I credit Alpha Sigma Alpha because the organization always inspires me to love life and joyously live each day to it’s ultimate good. Alpha Sigma Alpha has truly developed me into a woman of poise and purpose. I want to give back and help other collegiate women and alumnae in any way I can."
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Palms
ASA Palms THE WORD PALM MEANS TRIBUTE, HONOR OR PRAISE. ALPHA SIGMA ALPHA GIVES PALMS TO ALUMNAE AND COLLEGIANS FOR THEIR SUCCESSES AND MILESTONES. CELEBRATING A PERSONAL, PROFESSIONAL OR VOLUNTEER SUCCESS? TELL US ABOUT IT! SEND YOUR SUCCESS STORIES TO THE EDITOR AT ASA@ALPHASIGMAALPHA.ORG.
Joellen Walters Theta Delta
JoEllen Walters, ΘΔ, was recently crowned Miss Alaska USA 2019. She will represent her state at the 2019 Miss USA pageant in May. JoEllen's platform is proper disposal of prescription medication. She hopes to prevent, reduce and reverse the effects of the opioid crisis in her community.
Courtney Schuman Theta Delta
Courtney Schuman, ΘΔ, was crowned Miss Alaska 2018 by Miss America. Courtney's platform is "Empowering Youth for a Brighter Tomorrow," she hopes to encourage children to pursue their interests. Courtney competed in the Miss America Pageant this past September in Atlantic City.
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Palms
Brook Health Gamma Psi
Brooke Health, ΓΨ, was recently inducted to Edinboro University of Pennsylvania’s Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2018. Brooke is one of the most decorated swimmers in Edinboro's history. She held several records at one time, and still holds the record in the 200yard breaststroke (2:17.94). While residing in Ingersoll, Ontario, she has maintained her swimming career as a coach and swimmer. She has been the head coach of Middlesex Swimming in London, Ontario since 2010, producing provincial champions and national level swimmers. Brooke has 10 gold provincial medals and holds the provincial record in the 100-meter breaststroke.
Caitlyn Kramer Iota Eta
Caitlyn Kramer, IH, was crowned 2018 National American Miss Arizona. As Miss Arizona, Caitlyn competed for the National American Miss title this past November and placed first runner up. She also placed top five in the spokesmodel competition. "Pageantry has allowed me to understand how much of an impact I can have on my community," said Caitlyn. "My platform has become ending domestic violence through community awareness. Working and volunteering with various organizations and nonprofits actually inspired me to start my own called nonprofit Project Happiness Arizona. It's mission is to promote happiness through community service, student leadership and volunteerism."
Amy Pauszek Chi Chi
Amy Pauszek, ΧΧ, recently won the Audience Choice Award at Heartlandy's Indianapolis Shorts International Film Festival and Best Documentary at the Circle City Film Festival for her film "Grateful." "'Grateful' is an inspiring story about courageous Jenni Berebitsky who is beating the odds against ALS with determination through the help of her family and friends," Amy said. "Her story will warm your heart while teaching us to live an engaging, productive and meaningful life. I am humbled and proud to have produced such an extraordinary uplifting documentary film that is making a difference not only in Indianapolis but worldwide."
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Chap te r U p dates
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1. Tampa Bay, FL Alumnae Chapter
3. Epsilon Tau Chapter, University of Maryland-Baltimore County
4. Delta Nu-B Chapter, Kettering University, MI
During D.O.T. Days, members Heidi Bushko, Kim Blessinger, Sheri First, Nancy Cerwin and Paula Chesire volunteer for Adopt-a-Mile program cleaning the side of the highway.
Members Yong Jiang, Ioana Draghici, Megan Allison, Kyra Malone, Laure Patel and Vanessa Correia volunteered at a Girls on the Run 5K by helping with pre-race activities and cheering runners on during the race.
The chapter hosted a spaghetti dinner fundraiser benefiting Special Olympics. Pictured starting top left: Megan Eschelbach, Nora Crampton, Spencer Ingamells, Sally Dagher, Ashley Weber and Emily Kurburski.
2. Epsilon Epsilon Chapter, Emporia State University, KS Chapter members participated in Relay for Life where they raised more than $1,000 for the American Cancer Society.
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C hap t er U pdates
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8 5. Zeta Theta Chapter, Wagner College, NY
7. Beta Iota Chapter, Radford University, VA
9. Gamma Chi Chapter, Bryant University, RI
Grace Twaddel makes cotton candy at their fundraiser for North Shore Animal League.
6. Zeta Gamma Chapter, Gannon University, PA
Members pose with their Special Olympic buddy at the annual track and field games held at Radford University. Each athlete receives a buddy from the Beta Iota Chapter to cheer them on during events.
Chapter members volunteered at the annual Sneaker SoirĂŠe event hosted by the Rhode Island chapter of Girls on the Run. Attendees come dressed in cocktail attire while sporting a pair of sneakers.
Laruen Roberts, Leanne Casserlie and Dacey Wohlford participated in the Polar Plunge to raise funds for the local Special Olympics.
8. Beta Nu Chapter, Murray State University, KY The chapter gathers together for a sisterhood event.
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Chap te r U p dates
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10. Beta Epsilon Chapter, James Madison University, VA
12. Zeta Alpha Chapter, Missouri Southern State University
13. Delta Upsilon Chapter, University of Texas at San Antonio
Member Maggie Bull poses with her two guests during the chapter’s women’s brunch.
Sarah Boys, Larah Gross, and Paige Ragar donated their time doing face paintings for families who have, or previously had, children in the neonatal intensive care unit at Freeman Health Systems in Joplin, MO.
Chapter members celebrate Founders’ Day.
11. Greater Kansas City Alumnae Chapter The chapters celebrated Founders’ Day with a luncheon and recognized 50-year members.
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C hap t er U pdates
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14. Theta Delta Chapter, University of Alaska-Anchorage
16. Zeta Lambda Chapter, Rowan University, NJ
17. Greater Baltimore and Washington D.C. Alumnae Chapters
The chapter hosted their annual Spirit Run where all proceeds benefit a local philanthropic partner, the Covenant House of Alaska.
Members Madison Crane, Rachael Kolmins, Marley Ungerleider, Samantha Gropen, Alex Satmary, Molly Purceell and Danielle Tufare enjoy a sisters and s’mores themed event.
The chapter members gathered together at a joint celebratory Founders’ Day lunch.
15. Zeta Chi Chapter, Niagara University, NY Chapter members volunteer as coaches for a Special Olympics tournament hosted at their university.
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Fr o m t he A r chives S T R AT E G I C G O A L A R E A
Exemplify
From the archives
The expansion of Presidents’ Day BY JENNIFER MCNABB, PH.D., ΓΜ, NATIONAL HISTORIAN Each February, the country recognizes its presidents with a national holiday, originally designed to honor the first President of the United States, George Washington. It is fitting in this issue to honor the first Grand President of Alpha Sigma Alpha, Edna Venable Elcan Jones of Alpha Chapter.
Edna Venable Elcan Jones, A, in 1903.
Among the special guests at the golden anniversary convention: first national president Edna Venable Elcan Jones, A, left, with Wilma Wilson Sharp, ZZ.
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First, a bit of background: the holiday we now call Presidents’ Day had a long trajectory to its current status, identity and even its date. Following George Washington’s death in 1799, citizens of the newly-formed United States commemorated the first president each year on February 22, the anniversary of his birth. Those celebrations were accorded higher status in 1879 when Washington’s birthday was designated as a federal holiday, although the holiday was recognized only within the District of Columbia. Not until 1885 did the observance of the holiday, the first to honor an individual American, spread throughout the country. The Uniform Monday Holiday Act, passed in 1968 and implemented in 1971, gave the celebration its current date. Rather than commemorate Washington on his actual birthdate, the holiday was fixed on the third Monday of February, as part of a plan to create more three-day holiday weekends. Memorial Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day and Veterans Day were also moved to Mondays in the same Act. The shift
away from Washington’s birthday allowed the holiday to take on a more expansive significance. It has been powerfully linked with celebrations of President Abraham Lincoln, who was born on February 12 and has also come to be seen as an opportunity to honor all of the country’s presidents as well as the office of the presidency itself. The woman who would become Alpha Sigma Alpha’s first Grand President was born in 1882, just a few years before Washington ’s birthday became a national holiday. Edna Venable Elcan was initiated as a member of Alpha Chapter at then Longwood College in Farmville, VA, at the age of 19 on Jan. 29, 1903, just fourteen months after the Sorority’s founding. The first initiation of Alpha, with a class of three new members, had taken place three weeks earlier. Edna’s own initiation, with three other new members, was followed by a momentous event in the history of the Sorority. Just two weeks later, on February 13, 1903, Alpha Sigma Alpha was chartered in the Circuit Court of Prince Edward County, Virginia, an act that marked the crucial first step to making Alpha Sigma Alpha a national sorority. Edna herself was among the thirteen signers of the articles of incorporation. The coming months and years would witness significant expansion for Alpha Sigma Alpha. Two more initiations were held for Alpha Chapter in the spring of 1903, and in the fall, Beta Chapter was established at Greenbrier College for Women in Lewisburg, WV. Gamma would follow in the spring of 1904, at College
From t he Ar chives
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Fr o m t he A r chives Below: Early Alpha Chapter members from left, Virginia Boyd, Edna Venable Elcan, Calva Hamlet Watson, Grace Mason Wilson and Louise Pettigrew Price. Right: Early Alpha Chapter, Edna Venable Elccan is labeled as 10.
for Women in Columbia, SC and soon be joined by Delta at Mary Baldwin Seminary in Staunton, VA, Epsilon at Fauquier Institute in Warrenton, VA, and Zeta at Fairmount Seminary in Washington, D.C., and Eta at Ward Seminary in Nashville, TN, in 1905. During Edna Elcan’s college years, she was receiving her training as a teacher and was an active, well-liked figure on campus. In addition to Alpha Sigma Alpha, Edna was a member of the Cotillion Club and Tennis Club No. 1.
rosa,” meaning it maintained a secret or private standing on campus. Zeta Chapter, too, was a “sub rosa” chapter. Many faculty and campus officials in the early twenty century disapproved of sororities, believing that the secrecy of Greekletter organizations both encouraged and covered up immoral behavior. This attitude endangered the survival of Alpha Sigma Alpha. Campus prohibitions brought the closure of Zeta Chapter in 1906 and Delta Chapter in 1908. Eta and Epsilon Chapters both closed in 1907.
more I study the grace, the determination, and the vision of our presidents, the more confident I am that Alpha Sigma Alpha will continue to thrive, no matter what the challenge. I hope you will join me in remembering the Sorority’s national presidents each Presidents’ Day and thanking each of them for the gift of her leadership and the strength of our sisterhood. References Nora Ten Broeck, “A look back at Alpha Sigma Alpha’s first president,” The Phoenix
An account of Longwood’s Professional Hall Club offers a glimpse of Edna through the eyes of her classmates. “Chips,” as Edna was known, was identified as the “Merriest Hearted” and noted for her readiness with a joke and a laugh, her grin, and her favorite saying: “Whoop, Susie!” It was this young woman who was chosen as the Grand President of Alpha Sigma Alpha at the Sorority’s first national convention at the end of November 1905 in Richmond, VA, with a term that would run until 1908.
As president, Edna oversaw important developments for the Sorority, including the creation and publication of Alpha Sigma Alpha Magazine in May 1906 (and its renaming in 1908 as The Aegis of Alpha Sigma Alpha), the second national convention in Charleston, SC, and the installation of Iota Chapter at RandolphMacon Women’s College in Lynchburg, VA in 1908. Perhaps even more indicative of the quality of her leadership is the persistence of the Sorority during such a difficult period in the history of Greek life.
For all of the optimistic expansion of Alpha Sigma Alpha in its first years, “Chips” faced a challenging task: guiding a new sorority during a time of intense anti-sorority sentiment. Gamma Chapter was listed in a publication in 1904 as “sub
Alpha Sigma Alpha has faced and overcome numerous challenges during its own history, and much of the Sorority’s ability to succeed is directly linked to the dynamic women who have served Alpha Sigma Alpha in its highest office. The
85, no. 2 (Winter 2000): 4-6, accessible at https://issuu.com/alphasigmaalpha/docs/ asa_phoenix_vol_85_no_2_winter_2000 Jacob R. Straus, “Federal Holidays: Evolution and Current Practices,” published by the Congressional Research Service, 2014, accessible at https://fas.org/sgp/crs/ misc/R41990.pdf Suzanne M. Zorichak, ed., The Years Behind Us: A History of Alpha Sigma Alpha: 19012001, published by Alpha Sigma Alpha, 2002.
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For more on Edna’s life and her lifelong engagement with Alpha Sigma Alpha, see the feature in The Phoenix, published in Winter 2000.
Fro m t he Foundati on
WILMA WILSON SHARP SOCIETY
The Wilma Wilson Sharp Society honors members and friends of Alpha Sigma Alpha who have remembered the Alpha Sigma Alpha Foundation in their estate planning or through other forms of deferred giving. These donors leave a legacy that provides for the future vitality of the Sorority.
O
ne such member was Ellen Coussan Coffin, BΖ, who left a bequest to the Foundation upon her passing in June 2017. Ellen designated her bequest to be added to the Beta Zeta Scholarship Fund. Her Beta Zeta Chapter sisters remember Ellen fondly. Paula Coussan King, ΒΖ, was not only a Sorority sister, but also her cousin; she said Ellen was “a gentle soul and generous person, she was the “Lady” in all situations.” Claudette Colomb Lacour, ΒΖ, shared the following about Ellen: “Her parents were the dearest people and I could see where Ellen got her kindness and caring personality. She was always very levelheaded and wanted the younger members to always do what was right and correct as young ladies. She was very smart and wanted us all to be sure and “make our grades” every semester. I can honestly say that Ellen never mentioned a negative word about anyone or anybody. She would be very humble if she knew how we were reacting to her most generous gift. I think because her father taught at the University, she naturally would want these funds to be used for a scholarship.” Through her gift, Ellen’s legacy will continue through every woman who receives the Beta Zeta Scholarship. Academics played an important part in her collegiate membership and her gift to the Foundation will ensure that young women continue to receive an education with a smaller financial burden.
If you are interested in learning more about the Wilma Wilson Sharp Society and including the Foundation in your estate plans, please visit www.AlphaSigmaAlpha.org/WWS or contact fndstaff@AlphaSigmaAlpha.org. Phoenix of Alpha Sigma Alpha 35
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